Govt won't comment on rumoured ABC cuts

THE Abbott government won't confirm whether it's planning to cut the ABC's budget but says any business can be more efficient.

The federal government is considering a number of options to trim the public broadcaster's funding, with cabinet discussions centred on how deep and politically feasible the cuts will be, Fairfax Media reports.

Labor says any cuts to the ABC would break a promise Prime Minister Tony Abbott made the night before the election.

Asked about the speculation, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he wouldn't comment on the budget.

"You don't have long to wait - let's just wait for budget night," he told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.

"The problem is anything I say beyond that will be parsed and analysed into some sort of concession or direction.

"The best thing I can do, and this is certainly what the treasurer expects us to do, is ... not to speculate on the budget."

Mr Turnbull was also asked if the ABC or multicultural broadcaster SBS could run more efficiently.

"If you ask me whether there are efficiencies (or) if you asked your own management at SBS or ABC, they would tell you 'of course any business can be more efficient'," he said.